Coast mourns death of "quiet, beautiful" Cole Miller

QUIET, timid, beautiful and dedicated. These were just some of the ways those who loved Cole Miller have described the former Sunshine Coast teenager.

The 18-year-old lost his fight for life and succumbed to severe brain trauma yesterday after he was coward-punched in an unprovoked attack while walking through Brisbane's Fortitude Valley in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Steve Miller said his son, whose legacy would live on as an organ donar, had "struggled bravely" while in the intensive care unit of the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

"Our family and many close friends have been by his bedside since the incident," he said.

"He was a beautiful, brave young man with his whole life yet to be lived."

Mr Miller thanked those who had supported the family as well as the Fortitude Valley CIB and RBH medical staff.

Cole had worked at the centre, which was co-managed by his father, over many school holidays and weekends as he split his time between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

"He's quiet with others and reserved but with his family, he's happy-go-lucky and a lot of fun," she said.

"He loved anything to do with water from the surf to swimming, lifesaving and water polo.

He wanted to follow in his older brother Billy's footsteps in water polo and brother Mitchell in the surf and he idolised his big sister.

"He was unique, being the youngest child and the opposite of his three siblings in many ways, but he had the same work ethic."

Ms Douyere said the centre staff were experiencing "absolute sadness" over the loss.

"We are all so shattered for the Miller family, but we know they are such a strong unit and they will pull it together to live a great life for Cole," she said.

Among those who were able to say their goodbyes to Cole in hospital were members of Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Alex surf clubs who had known Cole well.

Alex Surf Club head coach Jeff Lemarseny had known Cole since he was a baby and had close ties with the Miller family.

"Cole was a very quiet, timid and strong person," Mr Lemarseny said.

"I could always find some larrikin stories for (siblings) Mitchell, Kate and Billy, but Cole was a beautiful kid.

"Cole adored his older siblings, looked up to them but went about things his own way.

"He went to Brisbane for schooling because Billy was down there training for water polo also."

Cole's star was rapidly rising in the water polo community.

He was recently promoted to the Queensland Academy of Sport as a scholarship holder and had already represented the state in the Under-20s National Championships and at the World Club Challenge last week in Sydney.

The Brisbane Barracudas water polo community banded together yesterday to remember Cole's passion and dedication to the sport.

A statement from the club said members were in mourning over the loss of a "fine young man".

"Cole was in the prime of his life. A talented young water polo player reaping the rewards of his hard work and dedication to the sport he loved," the statement said.

"This was his second season playing at the elite level with the National League and he had a promising career ahead of him.

"We wish to thank the broader sporting community for their condolences during this difficult time."

Mooloolaba Surf Club president Dave Jewry said everyone at the club had been "bloody devastated" to receive the tragic news yesterday.

A member of the club since the late 1970s, Mr Miller also was a former club president.

"I knew Cole from when he was a little kid sitting in the car while his dad put my house together," Mr Jewry said. "We are all behind the Millers. They are part of us."